The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - Amnesty human rights blasts Microsoft (Wrongly?)

Amnesty human rights blasts Microsoft (Wrongly?)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1136045,00.html

I dont think they are right. I mean what kind of software would that be?. From what i remember, the Saudi Government also blocks sites that are against their religion. Is this a software or is this a simple setting at the main server end? Can someone elaborate?

Karthik
Sunday, February 1, 2004

Agreed, Amnetsy International is wrong on this one. Should Microsoft allow companies to prevent access to site with explicit content but prevent the prevention of access to sites with "democracy"? And how would they go about defining the words a user couldn't define? Seems like a case of wanting to point the finger of blame so badly one fails to think of how the accused could have prevented the crime.

Lou
Sunday, February 1, 2004

How much of the "Microsoft" software running in China is even legitimate, anyway? Much as I dislike M$, can't blame them for how their software is used, especially if it has been pirated.

sgf
Sunday, February 1, 2004

Oh good grief.

"'[Microsoft] should be more concerned about human rights abuses and should be using its influence to lift restrictions on freedom of expression and get people out of prison. "

Um..no..They should be fixing their bugs in their code. We'd be happy with that. Let the knuckleheads at the UN use their influence to "lift restrictions on freedom...."

"Amnesty believes Microsoft is in violation of a new United Nations Human Rights code for multinationals which says businesses should 'seek to ensure that the goods and services they provide will not be used to abuse human rights'. "

Another great piece of wonderment to come out of the UN. That sounds all nice, warm and fluffy on paper and makes it's creators feel better about themselves, but how in the hell do they plan on having companies do this? Are companies supposed to have entire regulatory divisions like the government to enforce proper use of the equipment they sell?

Mark Hoffman
Sunday, February 1, 2004

Although, on the other hand, witness the recent controversy about Photoshop CS, where you can't open or work on any image containing a scan or picture of an official banknote (US dollars, Euros, etc.) It does seem that some companies ARE trying to enforce laws with their software... The line between this, DRM, and stopping China blocking sites on democracy, is quite blurry I would think...

Andrew Cherry
Sunday, February 1, 2004

Next they'll be asking Zippo* to include a "feature" to prevent indian husbands from burning thier unfaithful wives.

*Zippo lighters.

The real Entrepreneur
Monday, February 2, 2004

As long as Microsoft is not adding features like unique trackind IDs in Word documents to their products, then I don't see what the problem is. Of course, if MS contracting built-to-order a Carnivore-like system, that would be troubling as well.

Richard P
Monday, February 2, 2004